Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson has announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect, though the 36-year-old will continue to represent the county in white-ball formats, including the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup.

The left-arm spinner made the difficult decision to step away from red-ball cricket to extend his career in the shorter formats. "This is a decision that I haven't taken lightly," Dawson told Hampshire's website. "But I feel for the benefit of prolonging my career in white-ball cricket, the time is right."

Dawson's announcement comes as Hampshire sit bottom of Division One in the County Championship, with just one win in five matches. The veteran played in four of those fixtures, taking seven wickets, and missed the heavy defeat to Glamorgan due to injury.

With over 200 appearances for Hampshire, Dawson has been a cornerstone of the club's success. He has amassed more than 10,000 runs and taken over 350 wickets in first-class cricket. Only Robin Smith, Jimmy Adams, and James Vince have scored more runs for the county—a testament to his remarkable consistency over the years.

His career-best innings of 171 came against Kent at Canterbury in 2022, part of a tally that includes 17 centuries and 54 half-centuries. Dawson also earned four Test caps for England, facing India and South Africa, with his most recent appearance coming at Old Trafford last summer.

"I'm extremely proud to have played over 200 games for Hampshire and have had some amazing memories with so many players over the years," Dawson added. "I'm fully committed to playing white-ball cricket for Hampshire and continuing the success we've had. To the fans and members who have turned out over the years, I can't thank you enough for your support. Hampshire will always be my home."

Giles White, Hampshire's director of cricket, praised Dawson's contributions: "Liam has been an outstanding servant to Hampshire Cricket."

Dawson, who signed a new three-year contract in 2025, will return to the Utilita Bowl for Hampshire's first T20 match of the season on 22 May. For fans who have followed his journey from red-ball stalwart to white-ball specialist, his legacy as one of the county's finest all-rounders is secure.